The harmonic minor scale is natural minor with a raised 7th: a dark, exotic sound with a strong pull back to the root. It's the scale behind neoclassical metal runs, Spanish-flavored lines and the V7 chord of every minor key.
Formula
The reference key is A harmonic minor, the key the diagrams below use.
| Degree | 1 | 2 | b3 | 4 | 5 | b6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | A | B | C | D | E | F | G# |
Steps: W H W W H W+H H. The W+H is the augmented 2nd, a step and a half, between F and G#.
Sound and character
The b3 and b6 make it minor and dark. The 7 (G#) sits a half step under the root, a leading tone that wants to resolve up to A. Between the b6 and the 7 is that step-and-a-half gap, the sound people call exotic or Middle Eastern.
Where it's used
Neoclassical and power metal, classical guitar, flamenco, gypsy jazz and minor-key jazz. Over the i chord it fits Am and Am(maj7). Its real home is the V chord: harmonizing the scale gives E7 (E G# B D), so play it over E7 or E7(b9) on its way back to Am. The other chords from the scale are Bm7b5 (ii), Dm (iv), F (bVI) and G#dim7 (vii°7).
How to move it
The root is the amber dot. To change key, slide every pattern until the amber dots land on the new root. Move everything up 2 frets for B harmonic minor, or up 5 frets for D harmonic minor.
The exercises
- Position 1 from the low A, up to the high C and back. Listen for the G# on the D and high e strings.
- A short melody with an open A on every beat. Hear the G# lean into the A, and the F fall to E.
Harmonic minor is natural minor with a raised 7th; raise the 6th too and you get melodic minor.